Submergible stabilizer for barges



vii;

6, 1969 J. H. WILSON 3,442,239

SUBMERGIBLE STABILIZER FOR BARGES Filed March 28, 1968 Sheet of 8 FINE-f 11 JOHN HART WILSON INVENTOR,

HIS AGENT May 6, 1969 J. H. WILSON SUBMERGIBLE STABILIZER FOR BARGES Filed March 28, 1968 JOHN HART WILSON INVENTOR.

HES AGENT y 6, 1969 J. H. WILSON 3,442,239

SUBMERGIBLE STABILIZER FOR BARGES Filed March 28, 1968 Sheet 3 of 8 ll IYNVENTOR.

JOHN HART WILSON $9 g I Wy HIS AGENT May 6, 1969 J. H. WILSON SUBMERGIBLE STABILIZER FOR BARGES Sheet 4 018 Filed March 28, 1968 JOHN HART WILSON INVENTOR HIS AGENT May 6, 1969 J. H. WILSON 3,442,239

SUBMERGIBLE STABILIZER FOR BARGES Filed March 28, 1968 Sheet 5 of 8 JOHN HART WILSON 1N VENTOR.

HIS AGENT May 6, 1969 J. H. WILSON SUBMERGIBLE STABILIZER FOR BARGES Filed March 28, 1968 I no I E j g M r m Sheet 6 0f8 JOHN HART WILSON INVENTOR.

HIS AGENT May 6, 1969 J. H. WILSON 3,442,239

SUBMERGIBLB STABILIZER FOR BARGES Filed March 28, 1968 Shee t 7 or 8 JOHN HART WILSON INVENTOR.

HIS AGENT May 6, 1969 J. H. WILSON SUBMERGIBLB STABILIZER FOR BARGES Sheet Filed March 28, 1968 N w L M T R A H INVENTOR.

HIS AGENT mwm United States Patent US. Cl. 114--.5 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stabilizer for barges, which stabilizer has the upper surface area thereof as large or larger than the upper surface area of the barge, which stabilizer is composed of a hollow, water tight, compartmented, braced structure, which may be selectively filled with water and submerged to give stability to the barge, or the water may be evacuated from the stabilizer to buoy up the barge. The structure is selectively secured to the barge by spaced apart, upright standards. Provision is made for a well or opening vertically through the submergible stabilizer, which opening or well is in register with a well or opening in the barge, to permit the passage of drilling tools therethrough to enable well to be drilled, from the barge, into the ocean floor.

This invention relates to improvements in stabilizers for drilling barges, and more particularly to stabilizers to minimize the pitching, heaving and rolling of drilling barges and other other floating craft which are normally anchored in a stationary location.

Various attempts have been made heretofore to stabilize barges, but these for the most part, did not take into consideration the stresses and strains present on the stabilizer with respect to the barge.

The present stabilizer for barges or other floating craft embodies a submergible water tight, hollow structure which preferably has a larger upper surface area than the upper surface area of the barge or other floating craft to be stabilized, which submergible stabilizer may be filled to the desired capacity with water and submerged a spaced distance below the barge or floating platform into comparatively quiescent water and be maintained in this position by upright standards, so upon the upward movement of the barge or other floating craft, by wave motion, the submergible stabilizer will resist upward movement, flatwise through relatively quiescent water, and upon downward movement of the barge or other floating craft, the submergible stabilizer will resist flatwise downward movement through the relatively quiescent water. Since there will be a lag in time to move the submergible stabilizer upward as the barge or floating platform moves upward the sudden rise of the floating barge due to wave motion will be delayed and it will therefore nullify, to a certain degree, sudden upward movement thereof, and as the wave cause the barge to lower, an opposite reaction of the submergible stabilizer takes place.'The periodic action of the waves on the barge will be such that a minimum rise and fall of the barge will be accorded due to lag in movement of the submergible stabilizer.

Lateral or rocking motion of the barge is also greatly minimized due to the submergible stabilizer extending the effective keel of the barge into quiescent water to a substantial depth and presenting greater stabilizing leverage.

An object of this invention is to provide a stabilizer for a barge or other floating craft which will minimize the rise and fall, pitching and tossing and rolling of the barge due to wave action thereagainst.

Another object of the invention is to provide a submergible stabilizer for a barge or floating platform which ice has a greater upper surface area than the upper surface area barge or floating platform.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a submergible stabilizer for a barge or floating platform which is yieldably mounted, by ball and socket joints, for limited universal movement, so as to minimize strain between the spaced apart barge and submergible stabilizer due to twisting and lateral movement caused by wave action.

A further object of the invention is to provide flexible cable tension stay braces which enables the bracing of the barge with respect to the stabilizer a spaced distance below the floating platform and also to be braced both longitudinally and transversely with respect thereto.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide upright standards which are universally connected both to the barge or other floating craft and to the submerged stabilizer by ball and socket joints to maintain the submerged stabilizer a spaced distance below the barge or floating platform.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide upright standards which may be moved vertically in guided relation with respect to the barge and which may be selectively removed when desired.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a parti-spherical portion near each end of each upright standard which is selectively engaged in a complementary seat to form a ball and socket joint, which seats on the barge may be selectively opened to enable the sliding movement of the respective upright standards with respect to the respective seats or to enable the upright standard to be removed laterally the seat in which it is engaged.

Still another object of the invention is to provide fluid actuated means for opening and closing the respective seats around the parti-spherical portion of the respective upright standards.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pumping arrangement whereby water may be evacuated from the submergible stabilizer.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a valve and vent arrangement whereby water may be selectively directed into the submergible stabilizer.

Another object of the invention is to provide water tight, compartmented, submergible stabilizer which is internally braced to prevent the collapse thereof due to the pressure thereon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a submergible stabilizer whereby the water may be evacuated therefrom to enable the submergible stabilizer to buoy up the barge or floating platform.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically actuated stepping winch to tighten the longitudinal and transverse tension cable brace lines between the barge or floating platform and the submerged stabilizer.

Yet a further object of'the invention is to provide a stabilizer for a barge or floating platform which is efficient in operation and which will successfully minimize the roll, pitch and yaw of the barge or floating platform due to movement thereof created by waves and rough seas.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a submerged stabilizer for a barge, which has upright standards yieldably mounted with respect to the barge and with respect to the stabilizer to allow limited movement therebetween without causing damage to the upright standards or to the mountings therefor.

With these objects in mind and others which will become manifest as the description proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts in the several views thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a barge or other floating craft having a derrick mounted thereon, showing the submergible stabilizer positioned below the barge or the like, in full outline in the normal position of operation, showing in dashed outline the stabilizer in raised or barge engaging position, portions of the barge and stabilizer being broken away and shortened;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of a barge or other floating craft, showing a submergible stabilizer there below, with parts being broken away and with parts shown in section to bring out the details of construction;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the barge or other floating craft, showing the submergible stabilizer therebelow, with parts broken away and with parts shortened, and with parts shown in section;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed plan view of one of the lower bases for universally mounting one of the up right standards, showing fluid actuated cylinders to perform the functions of opening and closing a portion of the base mounting element and latching and unlatching these by the fluid actuated cylinders, with altenrate positions being shown in dashed outline;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed front elevational view of the upright standard seat, as shown in FIG. 4, with portions thereof being broken away and shortened;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, detailed side elevational view of the upright standard, as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, detailed view similar to FIG. 4, of a universal mounting for the upper portion of an upright standard, which enables the clamping of a partispherical member therebetween in bearing relation or the releasing of the parti-spherical member, while maintaining the upright standard for sliding movement therethrough or for selectively releasing the upright standard therefrom to enbale lateral removal thereof;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the form of the invention as shown in FIG. 7, but with parts broken away and shortened, showing a fragmentary portion of an upright standard therein, with the parti-sp herical portion thereof in seated relation therein;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the form of the invention as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, showing a fragmentary portion of an upright standard therein, with a parti-cylindrical seat on the upright standard;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side elevational view of a fluid actuated stepping winch, with a portion being broken away to bring out the details of construction;

FIG. 11 is an end elevational 'view of the winch as shown in FIG. 10, but with parts broken away and shown in section to bring out the details of construction;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view of a pumping unit shown apart from the submergible stabilizer;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged side elevational view of a valve for admitting water into the submergible stabilizer, showing a universal joint associated therewith; and

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 1414 of FIG. 7, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

With more detailed reference to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a barge or floating platform, which, in the present instance, is shown to have a derrick 2 mounted thereon, with which derrick a drilling rig hoist mechanism 4 is associated, and showing a prime mover 6 connected thereto. The drilling rig includes the usual crown block 8, traveling block 10, cables 12, Kelly 14, drill pipe 16, drill collars 18, and drill bit 20, and showing a bore hole 22.

'I he submergible stabilizer 24 has spaced apart seat members designated generally at 26, mounted on the upper surface thereof, each seat member 26 has a base plate 28 by which it is secured to the stabilizer 24, as by bolts, rivets, welding or the like. Each base plate 28 has a concave, parti-spherical seat 30 formed therein which is adapted to receive a parti-sp'herical member 32 fitted on the lower end of each upright standard 34.

4 Hingeable bearing members 36 are pivotally mounted on pivot pins 38, which pivot pins pass through lugs 40 and 42 on base plate 28 to pivot the hingeable members 36 about the axis of the respective pivot pins 38, as will best be seen in FIG. 4.

The opposite end of hingeable members 36 each has bifurcated lugs 44 thereon, the bifurcations of which lugs receive a T-shaped lock member 46 therein, as will best be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, which T-shaped lock member pivots about pivot pin 48 to lock the hingeable members 36 in the position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when in one position, and to permit the T-shaped latch member to be unlocked, when in another position, as shown in dotted outline in FIG. 4. A projection 50 extends outward from each base plate 28 and is received between L-slraped lugs 52 on hingeable members 36, so as to interlock the outer ends of hingeable members 36 in secure relation with base plate 28, when the hingeable members are closed around parti-sp'herical members 30 in bearing'relation, as well best be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Fluid cylinders 54 are pivotally connected at one end to lugs 56 on base plates 28, with the respective plungers 58 in cylinders 54 being connected to apertured lugs 60, one on each of the hingeable members 36. The fluid cylinders 54 each has a conduit 62 at one end and a conduit 64 at the opposite end thereof for the application of fluid pressure, as will be brought out more fully hereinafter.

An outwardly extending arm 66 is mounted on one of the hinge members 36, which arm is apertured to pivotally mount a fluid cylinder 68 thereon, which fluid cylinder 68 has a plunger 70 pivotally connected to a bell crank lever 72, each which lever is mounted on a T-shaped lock member 46, which look member is closed by applying fluid pressure to conduit 76. The plunger 70 will urge bell crank 72 and T-shaped lock member 46 into engagement with lugs 44 and with lugs 52 which pass beneath outstanding projections 50 to securely lock the hingeable members 36 in place.

The barge or floating platform 1 has spaced apart upright standard receiving members, which are generally designated at 78, positioned immediately above the respective seat members 26. Each upright standard receiving member 78 has a base plate 79, with outwardly extending, apertured lugs 79A thereon to receive pivot pins 90 therethrough, as will be more fully brought out hereinafter. The upright standard receiving members 78 each comprise a pair of hingeable members 80 and a pair of hingeable members 82, as will best be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, which pairs of hingeable members 80 and 82 are similar in construction and operation to hingeable members 36, however the hingeable members 80 and 82 complementall'y receive the respective parti-spherical members 84 in seated relation within the parti-spherical seat portions 86 and 88, as will best be seen in FIG. 8. However, the diameter of the here or opening within the respective hingeable members 80 and 82 is such as to slidably receive the respective upright members 34 therethrough when the parti-spherical member 84 is out of seating relation with seats 86 and 88 and positioned thereabove. The hingeable members 80 and 82 pivot about the axis of pivot pins 90 which will enable the hingeable members 80 or 82 to be opened and closed independently of each other. The hingeable members 80 each have bifurcated lugs 92 on the end thereof remote from pivot pins 90 to receive a T-shaiped lock member 94 through the bifurcations thereof to hold the hingeable members 80 in abutting relation when in the position as shown in FIG. 7. A perforate bell crank lever 96 is secured to T-shaped lock member 94 and extends outward therefrom. An arm 98, having an aperture formed therein, is made integral with one of the hingeable members 80 and a fluid cylinder 100 pivotally connected thereto by a pivot pin 102 passing therethrough and through perforate lugs of the fluid cylinder 100.

The fluid cylinder has a plunger 104 extending outward therefrom which plunger is pivotally connected, by a pivot pin 106 to the bell crank 96, so upon movement of the plunger in one direction, by introduction of fluid under pressure into conduit 108, the T-shaped lock member 94 will engage bifurcated lugs 92, as shown in FIG. 7, and upon directing fluid under pressure into conduit 110, the plunger 104 will be withdrawn into cylinder 100 to move T-shaped lock member 94 out of engagement with bifurcated lugs 92 to enable movement of hingeable members 80 about pivot pins 90, as will be more fully brought out hereinafter.

The base plate 79 has spaced apart, apertured lugs 112 to which fluid cylinders 114 are pivotally connected by pivot pins 116. The cylinders 114 each have a plunger 118 therein which plunger extends outward therefrom and is pivotally connected to a lug 120 on the respective hingeable members 80 by respective pivot pins 122. Upon directing fluid under pressure into the respective conduits 124, the respective plungers 118 will be withdrawn into the respective cylinders 114, and with the T-shaped lock members 94 disengaged from the bifurcated lugs 92, the cylinder 114 and plunger 118 will swing the hingeable members 80 about the axis of pivot pins 90 until the hingeable members 80, which are above hingeable members 82, permit the parti-spherical members 84 to pass outward above the concave spherical seats 86 and 88, however, when the parti-spherical members 84 are moved above hingeable members 80, these may be closed by applying fluid under pressure to conduit 126, whereupon, the plunger 118 within cylinder 114 will move outward to move the hingeable members 80 into abutting relation, as shown in FIG. 7, and with the T-shaped lock member 94 in open position, fluid under pressure is applied to conduit 108, which will cause T-shaped lock member 94 to engage bifrucated lugs 92 to lock the hingeable members 80 together, which will enable the respective upright members 34 to pass upward through the bore 81 within the respective pairs of hingeable members 80 and 82 in guided relation.

The hingeable member 82 has identical component parts to those of hingeable members 80 and are operated in the identical manner, but independently thereof, however, the only time hingeable members 82 need be operated is when it is desired to remove the upright members 34 laterally from between the hingeable members 80 and 82, and this can be accomplished when both hingeable members are in open position, therefore, for the sake of brevity, the description of the operation of the hingeable members 82 and the cylinders associated therewith has been dispsensed with.

Winching mechanism The submergible stabilizer 24 is maintained in substantially stable relation with respect to the barge or floating platform 1 by longitudinal and transverse tension cable bracing members 128 and 130, respectively. It is preferable to have at least two longitudinally positioned tension lines on each side of the barge, one near each end thereof and two transverse tension cable bracing members on each end, which cable tension bracing members are preferably tightened by winch means, designated generally at 132 which winch means is mounted on barge 1, which winch means may be fluid actuated to maintain the tension bracing cables 128 and 130 taut at all times, each of which cables has hooks 129 and 131 respectively to engage anchor eyes on the submergible stabilizer 24.

It is preferably to have the winch mechanisms operated by fluid pressure, the pressure of which may be regulated to maintain the correct tension on the respective cable tension bracing lines 128 and 130. The winch 132 has a base 134 on which is mounted upright bearing standards 136 with a bearing 138 on the upper end thereof, within which bearings a shaft 140 is mounted to receive a winch drum 142. The winch drum 142 has ratchet teeth 144 and 146 on opposite sides of the flanges thereof. Outwardly extending levers 148 and 150 are journaled for arcuate movement about the axis of shaft 148. The lever 148 has a plunger 152 pivotally connected thereto by pivot pin 154. The plunger 152 is mounted within a fluid cylinder 156, which fluid cylinder is pivotally mounted on base 134 by a pivot pin 158 passing through apertured lugs 160 on base 134 and through an apertured lug on the lower end of cylinder 156.

A plunger 162 is pivotally connected to lever 150 by a pivot pin 164, which plunger extends into fluid cylinder 166, which cylinder has an apertured lug on the lower end thereof, which cylinder 166 is pivotally connected, by a pivot pin 168, to apertured lug 161 on base plate 134, which pin passes through the apertured lugs on the base plate and an apertured lug on the cylinder to permit pivotal action therebetween.

The fluid cylinders 156 and 166 have conduits 170 and 172 connected to the lower ends thereof for the introduction of fluid under pressure into cylinders 156 and 166 respectively, which will move plungers 152 and 162 upwardly to move levers 148 and 156 about the axis of shaft 140. The lever 148 has a pawl 174 pivotally connected thereto to engage ratchet teeth 144 formed around the periphery of winch drum 142, on one side thereof. The lever 150 has a pawl 176 pivotally connected thereto to engage teeth 146 on the opposite side of the winch drum from the teeth 144. It is preferable that the teeth 144 and 146 be staggered one-half pitch for smoothness of operation.

The levers 148 and 150 each have an apertured, upturned end to pivotally mount the respective fluid actuated cylinders 178 and 180* thereon. The fluid actuated cylinders 1:78 and 180 have plungers 182 and 184 respectively therein which extend outward therefrom, which plungers are pivotally connected to the respective pawls 174 and 176, as will best be seen in FIGS. 10 and 11. The fluid cylinder 173 has conduits 186 and 188 connected to the opposite ends thereof, so, upon applying fluid under pressure to conduit 186, the plunger 182 will engage pawl 174 within a ratchet tooth 144 on drum 142. Then, upon application of pressure to conduit 170, the plunger 152 will be moved outward to move lever 148 and pawl 174 about the axis of shaft 140 to wind cable 128 onto winch drum 142. However, during the upward movement of plunger 152, fluid under pressure is directed into conduit 190 and into the upper end of cylinder 166 to move the plunger 162 downward until pawl 176 is below one of the ratchet teeth 146, whereupon, a conventional four-way, manually operated switching valve may be used to simultaneously switch fluid under pressure from conduits 170 and 190 into conduits 172 and 192, whereupon, fluid under pressure will move plunger 1162 upward, while plunger 152 is being returned, due to fluid being introduced through conduit 192 into the upper portion of cylinder 156. These valves may be manually operated or the valves may be sequentially switched by an automatic programming mechanism, such as shown in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 634,976, Automated'Pipe Tongs, filed May 1, 1967. Likewise, the fluid under pressure to cylinders 178 and 180 may be timed to properly engage the pawls 174 and 176 with the respective ratchet teeth 144 and 146, or fluid at low pressure, may be maintained on conduits 186 and 187 to urge the respective plungers 182 and 184 outwardly to permit the pawls 174 and 176 to ratchet into place as the plungers 152 and 162 move the levers 148 and 150 to rotate the respective winch drums 142 to wind the cable 128 thereonto so as to maintain a predetermined tension on the respective cables 128.

When it is desired to unwind cable 128 from drum 142, the respective pawls 174 and 176 are alternately engaged against the teeth 144 and 146, and after a pressure has been applied to permit the removal of one of the pawls from the toothed elements, the plungers 152 and 162 are permitted to alternately retract, after engaging the teeth, to permit regulated unwinding of cable 128 from winch drum 142 in the reverse manner from winding cable thereonto. The sequential valving arrangement, mentioned in the above named co-pending application, can be so timed as to permit the unwinding of cable from the drum 142 in such manner as to maintain a predetermined, constant tension thereon in accordance with regulated fluid pressure to the respective conduits.

Water handling arrangement for submergible stabilizer The submergible stabilizer 24 preferably has a multiplicity of compartments 200, each of which is water tight. In the present instance, four compartments are shown, each of which has a water inlet valve 202, which valves are shown, in the present instance, to be angle globe valves which are secured to the keel plate 204 of the submergible stabilizer 24. A gasket 206 is interposed between the lower face of flange 208 and keel plate 204, so upon opening valve 202, by rotating stem 212 thereof, the entrance of water into opening 210 into one of the compartments 200 may be readily controlled.

A universal joint 214 is preferably interposed between the valve stem 212 and a valve stem extension 216, which valve stem extension has an operator wheel, or the like, 218 positioned thereon, the elevation of which may be adjusted by set screw 219 in accordance with the relative spacing of the submergible stabilizer 24 with respect to the lower side of the barge 1. A valve stem extension guide 220 is provided on the barge 1, immediately above the respective valves 202. An air vent conduit, which may be a hose or a pipe, is designated by the numeral 222. One of these conduits is connected in fluid communication with each of the compartments 200, which conduits connect with opening 224 in the top of the submergible stabilizer 24.

The upper end of conduit 222 is always maintained above the water line, which is designated at W, so upon the introduction of water into the respective compartments 200, the air will be exhausted from each compartment through conduits 222 until the desired amount of water is introduced into the submergible stabilizer 24. If the stabilizer 24 should be completely filled with water and all air is exhausted therefrom, it would exert a dead weight on the barge 1 to the extent of the weight of the material within the submergible stabilizer 24 and upright standards 34, less the buoyant displacement thereof by the water. Therefore, it is normally desirable to maintain sufficient air within the compartments 200 to partially or completely counterbalance the dead weight so the barge 1 will not have to sustain the load of the submergible stabilizer thereon. However, this can be adjusted by admitting the particular amount of water into the compartments as required.

The compartments 200 have dividing walls 201 therebetween, and each compartment is braced 'both transversely and longitudinally by structural bracing 201A to maintain the structure rigid and to maintain the structure against collapsing by water pressure externally or by air pressure internally thereof, in accordance with known and accepted engineering practices for rigid structures having both internal and external pressure alternately thereon.

It is preferable to have a submerged pump 226 positioned in each compartment, near the lower side thereof, by which to evacuate water from the respective compartments 200. The present pump is shown in FIGS. 1 and 12, whereby the pump is a centrifugal pump and is secured to the keel plate 204 by bolts 221, so as to have the inlet of the pump a spaced distance above the bottom, so substantially all the water may be evacuated from the respective compartments 200. The pump 226 is shown to be driven by an electrical motor 230 mounted thereon, in a manner well known in the art of submergible pumps. The pump 226 has a riser conduit 232 leading upward thereform, which riser conduit is preferably a flexible hose which extends above the Water line W and discharges Operation In the use of drilling barges, it is desirable to anchor and stabilize such barges so that the drill pipe, suspended from the derrick of the drilling rig, may depend therefrom along the longitudinal axis of the derrick and through a vertical opening in the drilling barge and a vertical opening in the submergible stabilizer in register therewith and into the bore hole in the floor of the ocean. When seas are calm, present day drilling equipment may be used on a drilling barge or the like, without a submergible stabilizer, however, when the water is rough, the drilling barge or floating platform will be tossed about, which makes the drilling operation hazardous, slow and inetficient.

An elongated, hollow compartmented structure forms a submergible stabilizer 24 which is attached below the drilling barge or floating platform 1, by upright standards 34, the stabilizer may be brought into contact relation with the bottom of the barge or floating platform 1, in guided relation by the upright standards, when the water is evacuated thereform, by use of centrifugal pumps 226. When the water is evacuated from the compartments 200 the barge 1 will he buoyed up. The barge may be floated from port to a station at sea, with the submergible stabilizer immediately therebelow. The upright standards 34 are spaced around the sides and ends of the barge, and when the submergible stabilizer is lowered and secured in place by upright standards 34 at the desired depth, the tension brace cables 128 and 130 are tensioned, by winches 132 mounted on barge 1, to hold the submergible stabilizer 24 in secure relation with respect to the barge 1.

The hand wheels 218 are each secured to the respective valve stem extensions 216, which hand wheels may be opera-ted to open the respective valves 202, whereby the compartments 200 may be filled with water to the desired level to cause the submergible stabilizer 24 to sink to the desired depth, then the valve 202 may be closed. As the water enters the compartments 200, the air will flow therefrom out through openings 224 into vent pipe 222 to a point above the surface of water W, one of which vent pipes is connected with each compartment 200. With the submergible stabilizer 24 lowered to the desired depth, the upright standards 34 are moved downward through hingeable members 82 until the lower portion of the parti-spherical mem'ber seats in complementary relation in parti-spherical seat 88, whereupon, the hingeable members will be closed around upright standard 34 and the parti-spherical seat 86 will seat in complementary relation around convex, parti-spherical members 84 by action of the fluid actuated cylinders 114 and 100. With the submergible stabilizer 24 submerged in the manner set out above, the fluid actuated winch, as shown in detail in FIGS. 10 and 11, will operate fluid actuated cylinders 156 and 166 to tighten the longitudinal and transverse tension brace lines 128 and 130 to manitain the submergible stabilizer against appreciable movement with respect to the barge or floating platform 1. However, as pointed out above, the upright standards are mounted in ball and socket relation with respect to the stabilizer 24 and with respect to the barge 1 so that vibration and movement of the barge with respect to the stabilizer will not cause connection joints between the barge and the upright standards and between the stabilizer and the upright standards to be put in undue strain that would be evident if these were rigidly attached, as by welding or the like. As mentioned above, the winches are of the fluid actuated type and by utilizing an automatic programming arrangement, such as indicated in the above co-pending application, the tension cables 128 and 130 may be maintained at the desired tension and eve though the stabilizer might shift minutely with respect to the barge, no breakage between the upright standards and the anchor points on the barge and on the stabilizer is likely to occur.

When the submergible stabilizer 24 is securely positioned below the barge a sufficient distance so as to be in quiescent water, by upright standards 34 and braced by tension cable braces 128 and 130, the barge is in position for drilling operation, so that the drill bit 20, drill collars 18, drill pipe 16, and Kelly 14, suspended from traveling block 10 by cable 12, may be lowered through an opening 236 in the barge and through opening 238 in the submergible stabilizer 24, so that the drill bit may be run into the bore hole 22 in the conventional manner.

It is to be pointed out that the submergible stabilizer 24 preferably has a greater upper surface area than the barge and is lowered into quiescent water to such extent as to resist upward and downward movement due to the up and down movement created by the waves acting upon the barge 1, therefore, the delayed action in permitting the barge to be moved upward or downward is somewhat nullified, as the submergible stabilizer acts in a dash pot relation to maintain the barge or floating platform on which the derrick 2 is mounted in relatively stable condition. Furthermore, the height of the walls of the submergible stabilizer is such that resistance to movement laterally, either from side to side or end to end, is minimized. The present arrangement enables the use of a drilling barge for drilling operation under conditions which would not otherwise be possible.

When it is desired to move the submergible stabilizer from the position indicated in full outline, in FIG. 1, to the position indicated in dashed outline therein, hingeable members 80 are opened by opening T-shaped lock member 94, by directing fluid under pressure into conduit 110 to retract the plunger 104 of cylinder 100, whereupon,

'fiuid is directed into conduits 124 of each of the cylinders 114 to retract the respective plungers 118, which, upon starting pumps 226, will evacuate water from compartments 200 up through riser conduits 232 until the buoyancy of stabilizer 24 is such as to cause the stabilizer 24 to rise upward so that the upright standards 34 will slide upward through closed hingeable member 82.

With the water being evacuated by pump 226, air will be admitted into compartments 200 by vent pipe through opening 224 in the top of stabilizer 24, as will best be seen in FIG. 2. After the upright standards 34 have moved upward, so that each par-ti-spherical member 84 is above the respective hingeable members 80, the hingeable members 80 are closed by cylinders 114 acting on plungers 118, then the cylinder 100 reacts on plunger 104 to close T-shaped lock member 94, as indicated in FIG. 7, which will enable the hingeable members 80 and 82 to act as guides to upright standards 34 until the stabilizer is moved into contact relation with the bottom of the barge 1, as indicated in dashed outline in FIG. 1. By evacuating a greater amount of water from the stabilizer 34, a buoyant action may be had to buoy up the drilling barge 1.

With the water evacuated from the stabilizer 24 and with the stabilizer in the position, as shown in dashed outline in FIG. 1, the barge 1 and stabilizer 24 may be moved from a port to a location at sea, or vice versa.

When it is desired to remove the stabilizer 24 from the barge 1, for inspection or repair, the barge 1 is towed into water that is only a few feet deeper than the required draft of the barge with the stabilizer thereunder and with the stabilizer in contact relation with the bottom of the barge, as shown in dashed outline FIG. 1 or nearly so, the valves 226 are opened which will allow the stabilizer to sink to the floor of port, bay or the like. Whereupon the upright standards may be removed by a crane or winch line by opening hingeable members 36 by operation of fluid cylinders 54 and 68, thereby enabling disconnecting the upright standards from the stabilizer without the use of divers. After the hingeable members 36 release the respective parti-spherical members therefrom, the upright standards 34 may be released from barge 1 by opening hingeable members and 82 to enable the crane or winch line to move these laterally out of mounting members 78.

With the upright standards removed from the mounting members 78 and 26, the barge may be moved from over stabilizer 24 then upon evacuation .of water from compartments 200 by pumps 22% the stabilizer will be floated 1and may be towed or handled in the same manner as a arge.

Having thus fully shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A submergible stabilizer for barges and other floating craft, which stabilizer comprises;

(a) a hollow, watertight, elongated, rectangular submergible structure having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces, the upper flat surface area thereof being at least as great as the upper surface of the floating craft with which it is associated,

(1) the substantially flat lower surface of said submergible structure being at least as great as the upper surface area of the floating craft with which it is associated,

(b) upright standards universally pivotally connected to said submergible structure along the length and width thereof and being purposely yieldable with respect thereto,

(1) said upright standards being universally pivotally connected to the floating craft, around the perimeter thereof, to normally maintain said submergible structure, when said standards are in one position, a spaced distance below the craft, when the craft is floating on a body of water,

(2) said upright standards being longitudinally movable along the respective axes thereof and being movable with respect to the floating craft,

(3) and tensioned diagonally extending means on the floating craft connected to said submergible structure to maintain said upright standards in selected, upright, adjusted relation with respect thereto.

2. A submergible stabilizer for barges or other floating craft, as defined in claim 1; wherein (a) said submergible structure is wider than the barge or other floating craft with which it is associated.

3. A submergible stabilizer for barges or other floating craft, as defined in claim 1; wherein (a) said submergible structure is longer and wider than the barge or other floating craft with which it is associated.

4. A submergible stabilizer for barges, floating platforms and the like, which stabilizer comprises;

(a) an elongated, submergible structure,

(b) a plurality of parti-spherical socket mounting means arranged around the perimeter of the barge or floating platform, and being secured thereto,

(c) an upright standard, each having parti-spherical ball portions thereon, a parti-spherical ball portion of each upright standard being adapted to be received in complemental relation in one of said socket mounting means, to form a ball and socket joint,

(d) a plurality of parti-spherical socket mounting means arranged around the perimeter of said elongated, submergible structure and being secured thereto,

(1) the lower end of each upright standard having a parti-spherical ball portion thereon being adapted to be received in complemental relation in one of said parti-spherical socket mounting means on said submergible structure to form a ball and socket joint for yielding movement of said upright standards with respect to said submergible structure,

(2) at least a portion of each said socket mounting means on the barge or floating platform being selectively openable to permit the partispherical portion of the ball of said ball and Socket joint to be moved thereabove,

(i) said respective socket mounting means on the barge of floating platform, forming guides for movement of the respective upright standards therethrough in guided relation,

(ii) said respective upright standards being movable longitudinally through said socket mounting means on the barge or floating platform, and

(3) said upright standards, when the respective parti-spherical ball portions thereof are seated in the respective socket mounting means on the barge or floating platform and on said submergible structure, being adapted to maintain said submergible structure a spaced distance below the barge or floating platform, when the barge or platform is floating on a body of water.

5. A submergible stabilizer for barges, floating platforms and the like, as defined in claim 4; wherein (a) said socket mounting means on the barge, which are openable being hinged to form pairs of hingeable members,

(b) fluid actuated cylinders associated with each pair of hingeable members to selectively move said hingeable members with respect to each other,

(c) locking means associated with each pair of hingeable members, and

(d) fluid cylinder means associated with said hingeable members to selectively actuate said locking means.

6. A submergible stabilizer for barges and other floating craft, as defined in claim 1; wherein (a) said elongated submergible structure has a plurality of independent, water tight compartments formed therein,

( b) each said water tight compartment having an opening formed therein to admit water from the body of water on which the barge or other craft is floating,

(1) valve means associated with each said opening for controlling the entrance of water into the respective compartments, and v (2) vent means in each said compartment for venting air therefrom as water is directed thereinto.

7. A submergible stabilizer structure for barges, or other floating craft, as defined in claim 1; wherein (a) the lower end of each upright standard is universally pivotally mounted on said submergible structure,

(b) said barge or other floating craft being universally pivotally connected to each upright standard,

(0) a winch operatively mounted on the barge or other floating craft,

(d) cables associated with each upright standard near the lower end thereof and to said Winch, so each cable will be in angulated relation with respect to said upright standard to which it is associated, and

(e) power means for actuating said winch to draw said cables taut and to permit limited yielding of said upright standards with respect to said submergible structure and with respect to said barge or other floating craft.

8. In combination, a buoyant craft for floating on the surface of a body of water and subject to the wave action thereof, and a submerged stabilizer for said craft, said stabilizer having substantially flat horizontal upper and lower surfaces, the area of each of which is larger than the horizontal area of said craft, means connecting said stabilizer and said craft in fixed vertically spaced relation, with the stabilizer below and in substantial vertical registry with said craft, and at a depth wherein said body of water is substantially quiescent, said connecting means comprising rigid standards extending vertically between said craft and said stabilizer, each said standard being universally pivotally connected both to said craft and to said stabilizer, flexible cables extending diagonally between and interconnecting said craft and said stabilizer, and means for tensioning said cables to maintain said standards in their substantially vertical positions.

9. A combination defined in claim 8 in'which each standard is selectively adjustable in the directions of its length relative to said craft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,399,656 5/1946 Armstrong 1l4-O.5 3,294,051 12/1966 Khelstovsky ll40.5 3,327,668 6/1967 Schultz 114-05 TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner.

. US. Cl. X.R. 61-46.5 

